Five-knife three-stage trimming machine



Aug. 7, 1951 c. A. ROESSL ETAL FIVE-KNIFE THREE-STAGE TRIMMINC MACHINE Filed March 16, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventors Carl A. fioessl Bert Ffgendius A terns:

\ I IlllllllllllLl C. A. ROESSL 1-1 AL FIVE-KNIFE THREE-STAGE TRIMMING MACHINE Filed March 16, 1950 Aug. 7, 1951 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors Carl fhfioessl flobert R Jendius billy.

Aug. 7, 1951 c. A. ROESSL EI'AL 2,562,950

FIVE-KNIFE THREE-STAGE TRIMMING MACHINE Filed March 16, 1950 15 Shelets-Sheet 3 Inventors flarl Efloessl .Rober? $2 Jemiz'us Aug. 7, 1951 c. A. ROESSL HAL FIVE-KNIFE THREE-STAGE TRIMMING MACHINE 4 wan w a Mn N 90% a m 3 e a m f s m 1 0 6 l m mL' h m a M d p m E Aug. 7, 1951 c. A. ROESSL ETAL FIVE-KNIFE THREE-STAGE TRIMMING MACHINE Filed March 16, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 m n m I I fa fit army Aug. 7, 195] c. A. ROESSL ETAL FIVE-KNIFE THREE-STAGE TRIM MING MACHINE- Filed March 16, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 7 fl y Attorngg Inventors Carl A. fioessl .finbert R Jendiwz ,ifi

C. A. ROESSL ET AL FIVE-KNIFE THREE-STAGE TRIMMING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed March 16, 1950 lllrll wmm Aug. 7, 1951 c. A. ROESSL ETAL FIVEKNIFE THREE-STAGE TRIMMING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed March 16, 1950 Inventors Carl F .Qoessl 2V Ruben fic'kndz'us Giza I fl ornq 1951 c. A. ROESSL ETAL I 2,562,950

FIVE-KNIFE THREE-STAGE TRIMMING MACHINE Filed March 16, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 10 t Inueniors Carl F. .Qoess? Qoberi yendz'as z 11 flaw y FIG. 10

Aug. 7, 1951 c. A. ROESSL ETAL FIVE-KNIFE THREE-STAGE TRIMMING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed March 16, 1950 Inventors G27? 9 Q0855 flaberifigendius x w Aug. 7, 1951 c. A. ROESSL EI'AL FIVE-KNIFE THREE-STAGE TRIMMING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed March 16, 1950 Inventors Carl (4.800s! Roberta Jenql 11 orngy Aug. 7, 1951 c. A. ROESSL ET AL FIVE-KNIFE THREE-STAGE TRIMMING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed March 16, 1950 [mentors Car? 9. @oessl C. A. ROESSL ET AL FIVE-KNIFE THREE-STAGE TRIMMING MACHINE Aug. 7, 1951 15 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed March 16, 1950 4 M a w Aug. 7, 1951 c. A. ROESSL ETAL FIVE-KNIFE THREE-STAGE TRIMMING MACHINE Fiied March 16, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet l5 Patented Aug. 7, 1951 FIVE-KNIFE THREE-STAGE TRIMMING MACHIN Carl A. Roessl and Robert P. Fendius, Chicago, 111., assignors to C. L. Moyer Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 16, 1950, Serial No. 150,021

19 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a five-knife threestage trimming machine adapted for use in trimming books, catalogs, pamphlets, and the like, andis more particularly concerned with the provision of a trimming machine designed to progressively trim book units comprising a plurality of printed sheets bound together to form two complete individual books when the book unit is cut transversely intermediate its ends.

Briefly, the present invention contemplates the provision of a trimming machine in which each book unit is delivered to the first cutting stage of the machine and trimmed along its front edge by a first stage knife. The book unit is then transferred from the first cutting stage to the second cutting stage of the machine and is cut transversely by a pair of second stage cutting knives disposed in spaced parallel relation to form one completely trimmed individual book. The partially trimmed book of the book unit is then transferred from the second cutting stage to the third cutting stage of the machine and is trimmed along its head and foot by a pair of third stage cutting knives arranged in spaced parallel relation. The machine thus acts to progressively move a book unit step-by-step through three cutting stages to form two individual books trimmed along the head, foot and front edge.

This invention further contemplates the provision of an improved feed mechanism for automatically and progressively transferring the book units from the first cutting stage to the second and third cutting stages of the trimming machine.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a trimming machine adapted for use in trimming book units of various lengths, widths and thicknesses.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a trimming machine in which five knives are mounted upon a knife carrier guided for reciprocative movement above the base of the machine, the knife carrier being actuated by means of cranks and connecting rods. In order to prevent rapid dulling of the knife edges due to contact with their respective cutting blocks, abutment shoulders are directly engaged by the knife carrier to terminate each downward movement of the carrier at a predetermined point.

This invention embodies other novel features, details of construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view illustrating a 2 1 trimming machine embodying features of this invention.

Fig. 1A is a detail sectional view illustrating the first-stage knife holder and the means employed for adjustably mounting a knife thereon.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the trimming machine, parts of the frame being broken away to illustrate the operating mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the relation of parts of the book unit transfer mechanism employed for transferring book units from the first stage of the machine to the second and third stage of the machine, the mechanism being shown in its forward position.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, corresponding to Fig. 7, illustrating the book unit transfer mechanism in its rear position.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along the line I I of Fig. 1, showing the second stage trimming knives at the termination of their cutting stroke.

Fig. 11A is a schematic plan view illustrating the means for varying the spacing of the second and third-stage trimming knives.

Fig. 12 is a detail side elevational view illustrating the gear and rack mechanism of the book unit transfer mechanism shown in Figs. '7 and 8 i in the drawings.

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of same.

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 14- of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a detail sectional view taken alon the line 15-45 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged detail view showing the rear latch mechanism of the book unit transfer mechanism illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings.

Fig. 17 is a top plan view of same.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along the line l8-l8 of Fig. 4, illustrating the stop mechanism coacting with the first-stage trimming knife.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along the line I9I9 of Fig. 4, illustrating the transfer mechanism employed for delivering books from the first-stage trimming knife to the book unit transfer mechanism.

Fig. 20 is an enlarged detail top plan view taken along the line 20-20 of Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a detail sectional view taken alon the line 2 I2I of Fig. 19.

Fig. 22 is a schematic view illustrating the three stages employed in trimming each book unit.

Fig. 23 is a perspective view illustrating a book unit and the method of trimming same to form two individual books.

Machine frame Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of this invention, the machine frame is shown as comprising a base 6 embodying a pair of side frame members 'I-'I secured in spaced parallel relation by means of a pair of end frame members 88. An intermediate plate 9 is supported upon the side frame members 'I-'I and is accurately machined on its upper surface to provide a smooth work face to receive and support the parts of the machine mounted thereon. In the construction of the trimming machine, it has been found desirable to first construct the base 6 and to finish the intermediate surface of the top plate 9 in order that accurate measurements may be taken from the surface of the intermediate plate to other parts of the machine.

A head II is supported in spaced parallel relation to the top plate 9 by means of four columns I2 disposed at the four corners of the top plate. The several parts of the machine frame thus shown and described are secured in assembled relation by means of bolts and cap screws to provide a strong rigid framework for the operating parts of the machine.

Knife carrier Four guide rods I3 are secured in apertures provided in the head II to slidably engage and guide a knife carrier I4. The knife carrier I4 is reciprocated in a vertical plane along the guide rods I3 by means of a pair of crank shafts I6 and I1 formed with crank portions mar-Ilia and Ila-Ila, respectively. Two pairs of connecting rods I8I8 and I9-I9 are journaled at their lower ends to the crank portions Ilia-46a and I'Ia-IIa, respectively, while the upper ends of the connecting rods are journaled on bosses 2I provided on the knife carrier I4. The lower ends of the guide rods I3 are threaded to receive adjustable stop collars 22 adapted to be directly engaged by the knife carrier I4 at the termination of its cutting stroke. In the assembly of the machine, the knife carrier I4 is positioned to rest upon the adjustable collars 22, and the connecting rods I8-I8 and I9I9 are adjusted to draw the knife carrier into tight engagement against the adjustment collars 22, the crank portions I6a--I6a and Ila-Ila being disposed at the lower end of their stroke as illustrated in Fig. 1. Each'connecting rod preferably comprises a pair of bearing members 200-2011 threaded to receive the reversely threaded ends of a rod 20b.

The crank shafts I6 and H are driven in timed relation by means of an electric motor 23 provided with a pulley 24 to drive belts 26 leading to a pulley 21 secured to a shaft 28.

The shaft 28 is journaled in suitable bearings provided in a side frame I and a bracket 30 and has a gear 29 keyed thereto for meshing engagement with a gear 3| keyed to a shaft 32. A gear 33 is also keyed to the shaft 32 for meshing engagement with a gear 34 keyed to a shaft 36. The shafts 32 and 35 are journaled in suitable bearings provided in the side frames 1--1. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the gear 34 meshes with gears 31 and 38 which are keyed to the crank shafts I6 and II, respectively.

Knife holders The lower surface of the knife carrier I4 is machined to provide a smooth finished surface to receive a first-stage knife holder guide plate 39 which is secured in fixed position by means of suitable cap screws. The guide plate 39 is formed with a dovetail slot to receive the dovetail formed on a first-stage knife holder 4|. The knife holder H is mounted for reciprocative movement transversely of the machine within the dovetail groove formed in the guide plate 35. A connecting link 40 is connected at its one end to a pivot pin 42 provided on the knife holder and is connected at its other end to a pivot pin 43 provided on the head II. During vertical reciprocative movement of the knife carrier I 4, the connecting link 40 acts to move the knife holder 4I transversely of the machine, in a draw knife action. An adapter 44 is secured to the knife holder 4| by means of cap screws 46, and a knife 41 is adjustably mounted on the adapter by means of cap screws 48 and adjustment screws 49, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1A.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 5, 11, and 11A in the drawings, a pair of second-stage knife holder guide plates 5| and 5Ia are mounted on the bottom face of the knife carrier I4 by means of a pair of recessed guide bars 52-52 adapted to receive and engage tongues 53-53 and 53a-53a formed on guide plates 5| and 5Ia, respectively. The guide plate 5Ia is adjusted transversely of the machine by means of an adjustment screw 54. Guide plates 5| and 5Ia are formed with dovetail recesses 56 and 56a to receive the dovetail portions of knife holders 51 and 51a, respectively. Adapters 58 and 58a are secured to the knife holders 51 and 51a, respectively, by means of cap screws 59. Knives SI and 6Ia are vertically adjustable on their respective adapters 58 and 58a by means of cap screws 48 and adjustment screws 49.

The knife holders 5! and 51a are connected for common movement through their respective dovetail grooves 56 and 560. by means of a cross shaft 62 which extends through apertures formed in the knife holders. A pair of connecting links 63 and 63a, see Figs. 1, 2 and 3, are connected at their lower ends to the cross shaft 62 and are journaled at their upper ends on pivot pins 64 and 64a provided on the head II. During vertical movement of the knife carrier I4, it will be noted that the connecting links 63 and 83a act to impart reciprocable movement, in a draw knife action, to the knife holders 5'! and 51a, respectively.

A pair of third-stage guide plates 66 and 66a are mounted on the lower surface of the knife carrier I4 by means of a pair of transversely disposed guide strips 6'I-6'I formed with recesses to receive projecting tongue portions formed on the guide plates. The guide plate 66 is adjustable transversely of the machine by means of an adjustment screw 54a. The guide plates 68 and 86a are formed with dovetail grooves 88 and 88a to receive the dovetails formed on a pair of knife holders 89 and 69a. The knife holders 69 and 69a are provided with adapters H and He which are secured in position by means of cap screws 12. Knives 13 and 13a are adjustably positioned upon their respective adapters H and 1| a by means of cap screws 48 and adjustment screws 49, as illustrated in Fig. 11 in the drawings.

The knife holders 89 and 69a are formed with apertures to receive a cross shaft 14. A pair of connecting links 16 and 16a are connected at their lower ends to the cross shaft 14 and are connected at their upper ends to pivot pins 11 and 11a provided on the head II. During vertical movement of the knife carrier I4, the connecting links 16 and 18a act through the shaft 14 to impart common reciprocable m .vement to the knife holders B9 and 69a in a dra knife action.

Cutting tables As illustrated in Figs. 1, 5, 7, 11 and 18 in the drawings, cutting tables 18, 19, 19a, 8| and 8Ia are mounted on the top plate 9 of the frame 6 under the knives 41, SI, 6Ia, 13 and 13a, respectively. The cutting tables 19, 19a, 8| and 8Ia are adapted to be adjustably positioned transversely of the machine by means of clamping strips 82 formed with tongue portions 83 for clamping engagement against abutment shoulders 84 formed on the tables (see Fig. 7). The clamping strips 82 are secured to the table top 9 by means of cap screws 86. Each of the cutting tables is provided with a cutting block 81 formed of hard fibrous material, each cutting block being secured in position upon its cutting table by means of a clamping strip 88. A book-supporting platform 89 is supported upon posts 9I extending upwardly from the top plate 9, the upper surfacetof the platform 89 being in a common plane with the upper surface of the cutting blocks 81.

Hold-down device As illustrated in Figs. 1, 5 and 11 in the drawings, each of the guide plates 39, 5I, 5Ia, 88 and? 88a is provided with a hold-down device to coact with their respective cutting tables 18, 19, 19a, BI and 8Ia to hold books in position during the cutting stroke of their respective knives 41, 8|, IiIa, 13 and 13a. Each hold-down device comprises a hold-down bar 92 secured at the lower ends of a pair of rods 93-93 mounted for reciprocative movement within their respective guide plates. Each guide plate is formed with a pair of recesses 94--94 to receive a pair of compression springs 96-96 which act to yieldably resist movement of their hold-down bars toward their guide plates. 92 away from their respective guide plates is limited by means of adjustment nuts 91 threaded onto the ends of the rods 93.

First stage book feed mechanism Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 18 in the drawings, the first stage book feed mechanism, which is described and claimed in our copending application Serial No. 182,278 filed August 30, 1950, is shown as comprising a hopper, generally indicated at 98, adapted to receive a stack of book units 99 supported upon a platform [III which in turn is mounted upon a frame I82. Two sets of driving sprockets I83I83 and Movement of the hold-down bars 6 MM, respectively, Journaled in the frame I82. Two sets of driven sprockets I-I85 and I85a-I85a are keyed to shafts I88 and I88a, respectively, journaled in the frame I82. Two sets of endless chains I81--I81 and I81a-I81a are mounted on the sprockets I83-I85 and I 83a-I 85a, respectively.

Push lugs I88 are mounted at spaced intervals along the chains I81 and I81a and project upwardly therefrom to push the book units 99 from the lower end of the hopper 98 along the platform I8I toward the first stage knife 41. noted that the height of the push lugs I88 determines the thickness of the stack of book units 99 displaced from the hopper 98. Bevel gears I89 and I89a are keyed to the driving shafts I84 and I84a, respectively, for meshing engagement with a pair of bevel gears I I I and I I la keyed to a shaft II2 journaled in the frame I82. A sprocket H3 is also keyed to the shaft II2 to be driven by an endless chain I I4 which extends around a driving sprocket II8 keyed to the crank shaft I6.

As a stack of book units 99 are moved along the platform IN by means of the push lugs I08 provided on the endless chains I81 and I01a, the book units are brought into engagement against a pair of first stage stop arms II1II1 which are pivotally mounted at II8 on a cross bar II9 which, in turn, is supported upon the book supporting platform 89 (see Fig. 18). The first stage stop arms II1I I1 are connected for common movement by means of a cross shaft I2 I, the cross shaft I2I being joumaled in a bearing bracket I22 mounted at the upper end of an actuating bar I23. The lower end of the bar I23 is secured to a bifurcated bracket I24 having its two arms I28I28 straddling a bushing I21 journaled on the crank shaft I8. A roller I28 is journaled on the bracket I24 for engagement by a cam I29 keyed to the shaft I8. During rotational movement of the cam I29, the first-stage stop arms II1II1 are moved into and out of the line of travel of a stack of book units 99.

Chain feed mechanism After the stack of book units 99 has been trimmed along its front edge by the first stage cutting knife 41, the stack is engaged at its head and foot and moved rearwardly by a pair of endless sprocket chains I 3 I--I3 Ia provided with book engaging lugs I32I32a (see Figs. 1, 4, 19, 20 and 21). The sprocket chains I3II3Ia are mounted on sprockets I 33I33 and I33a--I33a, respectively, the sprockets I33I33 being keyed to shafts I34-I35 and the sprockets I33a-I33a being keyed to shafts I38-I31. The shafts I34-I35 are journaled in a bearing bracket I38, and the shafts I38-I31 are journalecl in a hearing bracket I39. The bearing brackets I38 and I39 are suitably mounted upon a bracket supporting plate I4I extending transversely across the machine and secured at its ends to the upper surface of the top plate 9 by means of cap screws I42.

The bearing brackets I38 and I39 are adjustably positioned along the supporting plate I M by means of adjustment screws I43 and I44, respectively, (see Fig. 19) journaled in thrust plates I45 and I46, respectively, the bearing brackets being provided with threaded apertures to receive the ends of the adjustment screws. The bearing brackets are secured in fixed position by means of locking screws I41 which are threaded into the brackets for engagement against the supporting I83a-I83a are keyed to driving shafts I84 and 7 plate I.

It will be A driving shaft I48 is journaled adjacent its ends in bearing arms I49 and I50 provided on the bearing brackets I38 and I39, respectively. Bevel gears II and I52 are mounted on the ends of the shaft I48 for meshing engagement with bevel gears I53 and I54 keyed to the shafts I34 and I36, respectively. The ends of the shaft I48 are provided with key ways I55I55 to receive keys secured within the bore of each of the bevel gears I5I and I52 to prevent rotational movement of the gears relative to the shaft. The medial portion of the shaft I48 is journaled in a bearing I56 secured to the supporting plate I4I. A sprocket I51 and a collar I58 are secured to the shaft I46 on opposite sides of the bearing I56 and serve to prevent axial displacement of the shaft. A sprocket chain I59 leads from the sprocket I51 to a driving sprocket I60 keyed to the shaft I6.

Rack feed mechanism The stack of book units 99 is delivered by the chain feed mechanism to a rack feed mechanism comprising two feed units I6II6Ia which are similar in construction and operation and act together to move a stack of books along the plate 89 to the second and third cutting stages of the machine. To avoid repetition, as the units I6I and I6Ia are similar in construction and operation, the following description of unit I6I also applies to the unit I6Ia.

Referring now to Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 12 to 17, each feed unit of the rack feed mechanism is shown as comprising a rack I62 mounted for reciprocative movement along a guide frame I63. Three fixed book clamping jaws I64, I56 and I66 are secured to the rack I62 by cap screws to engage the trimmed front edge of book units 99. A guide plate I61 is secured in spaced relation upon the rack I62 by means of spacing blocks I68 and cap screws I69. To permit adjustment of the guide plate I61 along the rack I62, the guide plate is provided with slots I to receive the screws I69. A pair of movable clamping jaws HI and I12 are secured by cap screws I13 to a connecting bar I14 to coact with the jaws I64 and I65, respectively, to engage book units being transferred through the second and third cutting stages of the machine. The connecting bar I14 is mounted for sliding movement along the upper edge of the guide plate I 61, and the lower ends of the jaws HI and I12 are slidably engaged between the rack I 62 and the guide plate I61. Cam plates I and I16 are disposed for sliding movement along the outer face of the guide plate I61 and are secured to the movable clamping jaws HI and I12, respectively, and to the connecting bar I14 by means of cap screws I13. A cap screw I11 extends through the cam plate I15 and thence through a slot I18 in the guide plate I61 for threaded engagement in the lower end of the clamping jaw I1I. A cap screw I19 extends through the cam plate I 16 and thence through a slot I8I in the guide plate I61 for threaded engagement in the lower end of the clamping jaw I12.

A cam member I82 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a pivot pin I83 provided on the guide plate I61, the ends of the cam member being provided with rollers I84 and I86 journaled .on pins I81 and I88, respectively (see Figs. 16 and 17). The cam member is engaged against excessive outward displacement from its pivot pin by means of a limit plate I85 (see Figs. 16 and 1'1) secured to the guide plate I61. The end of the limit plate is disposed for sliding engagement against a circular portion I82a formed on the cam member I82. When the cam member I82 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction, as illustrated in Fig. 16, the roller I64 acts against the cam face I89 of the cam plate I16 to move the latter rearwardly until the roller is seated in a locking recess I90 at the lower end of the cam face. It will be noted that the cam member I82 thus acts to move the clamping jaw I12 away from its companion jaw I65. As the movable clamping jaws I12 and "I are secured to each other by the connecting bar I14, movement of the clamping jaw I12 will also cause movement of the clamping jaw I1I relative to its companion jaw I64. A tension spring I9I is connected at its one end to the cam plate I16 and at its other end to the guide plate I61 to yieldably resist movement of the clamping jaws I12 and HI away from their companion jaws I65 and I64.

A latch I92 (see Figs. 7 and 8) is journaled for pivotal movement on a pin I93 provided on the guide plate I61 and is engaged against excessive outward displacement from its pin by -a limit plate I94 secured to the guide plate. A tension spring I96 is connected at its one end to the lower end of the latch and is connected at its other end to the guide plate I61 to yieldably resist pivotal movement of the latch in a clockwise direction. A roller I91 is journaled on the upper end of the latch for engagement in a latch recess I98 formed in the cam plate I 15 when the cam member I 82 moves the movable clamping jaws Ill and I12 to their open position.

A trip pin I99 is provided on the right hand end of the latch I92 for engagement by a trip plate 20I to cause the latch to pivot in a clock- Wise direction to thus move the roller I91 from its locked position within the recess I98 formed in the cam plate I15. A trip arm 202 is provided on the top plate 9 for engagement with the roller I86 on the cam member I82 to pivot the latter in a clockwise direction to move the roller I 84 out of the locking recess I90 formed in the cam plate I16. The trip arm 202 is in the form of a rack slidably mounted in a base 293 and actuated by a rack gear 204 to adjust the position of the trip arm. I

The rack feed units I BI and I6Ia are supported in spaced parallel relation above the table top 9 by means of a front bell crank lever 206 and a pair of rear bell crank levers 201201, the lever 206 being journaled in bearings 208208 and the levers 201--201 being keyed to a shaft 205 journaled in bearings 209-209. The front ends of the feed units I6II6I a are connected together by a crosspin 2H and one end of the bell crank lever 206 is journaled on the cross pin. Pivot pins 2I22I2 are provided on the guide frame I63 of each feed unit I 6II 6Ia to pivotally engage the upper ends of their respective bell crank levers 201-201.

A pair of connecting rods 2I3-2I3 are pivotally connected at their back ends to the lower ends of their respective bell crank levers 201-201 and are secured at their front ends to a cross shaft 2I4. The lower end of the bell crank lever 206 is journaled on the cross shaft 2| 4. A connecting link 2I6 is journaled at its one end on the shaft 2I4 and has its other end pivotally connected to the upper end of a cam actuated lever 2". The lever 2I1 is journaled on a shaft 2 I 8 supported at its ends in the side frame members 1-1. A roller M9 is journaled on the lower end of the lever 2 I 1 and engaged within the -provided on the bell crank levers 201-201.

track 221 of a box cam 222 keyed to the shaft 36.

A lever 223 is secured to a shaft 224 journaled at its ends in a pair-of bearings 226-226. A roller 221 is Journaled on a pin provided at the end of the lever 223 and is disposed within the cam track 221 of the cam 222. Each of the bearings 226-226 is supported at its one end on the shaft 218 and at its other end on a shaft 228 which, in turn, is supported at its ends by the side frames 1-1. A pair of levers 229-229 are secured to the shaft 224 and have their outer ends pivotally connected to a pair of connecting bars 231-231 which, in turn, are engaged within elongated recesses formed in a pair of holders 232-232. The connecting bars 231-231 are adjustably positioned along their respective holders 232-232 by means of adjustment screws 233-233 and set screws 234-234. The holders 232-232 are pivotally connected to the lower ends of a pair of levers 236-236 which, in turn, are supported for pivotal movement on bearings 231-231 provided on the table top 9. As illustrated in Figs. 8, 16 and 17 the upper ends of the levers 236-236 act against their respective rollers 186-186 on the cam members 182-182 to move the movable clamping jaws of the rack feed units 161-16111 away from their companion clamping jaws.

The racks 162-162 of the units 161-161a are driven in timed relation by a pair of gears 238-238 journaled on pins 212-212 (see Fig. 9). Gears 239-239 mesh with their respective gears 238-238 and are journaled on pins 240-240 A pair of gears 241-241 are keyed to the shaft 205 for meshing engagement with their respective ears 239-239. A gear segment 242 meshes with the gear 241 of feed unit 162 and is keyed to a shaft 243 journaled at its ends in the side frame members '1-1.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 6 and 9, a lever 244- is keyed to the shaft 243 and is provided at its end with a pin 246 journaled in a lost-motion block 241 which, in turn, is journaled at 248 in the upper end of a connecting rod 249. The lower end of the connecting rod is journaled on a pin 251 mounted on the end of a crank arm 252 keyed to the shaft 36.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 6, '7 and 8, a pusher arm 253 is pivotally mounted at its lower end upon a bracket 254 and has its upper end projecting upwardly through a slot in a book receiving table 256 to engage and move trimmed books. A connecting rod 251 is pivotally connected at its one end to the medial portion of the pusher arm and is pivotally connected at its other end to a lever 258 keyed to the shaft 243.

Operation In the operation of the trimming machine, the book units 99 are conveyed from the hopper 98 to the first stage cutting knife 41 by means of the lugs 108 provided on the endless feed chains 101-101a. During downward movement of the knife carrier 14 the first stage cutting knife 41 acts to trim the front edge of the book unit 99. It will be noted that the connecting link 40 acts to impart a draw-cut action to the knife 41 during the trimming stroke.

After the book unit 99 has been trimmed along its front edge it is engaged at its head and foot by the opposing lugs 132-13211. on the endless chains 131-13111 and moved rearwardly along the table 89 for engagement by the rack feed units 161-16111. As illustrated in Figs. '1 and 8,

10 the rack feed units 161-16111 are moved up and down by means of the box cam 222 which acts through the lever 211, connecting link 216 and bell crank levers 206 and 201-201. As the rack feed units move upwardly, as illustrated in Fig. '1, the book clamping jaws 164-111 and 166-112 are in their open positions to receive one or more book units 99. When the rack feed units reach their upper position a trip plate 201 acts against the trip pin 199 on the latch 192 to rotate the latter in a clockwise direction and thus move the roller 191 from its latch recess 188. The tension spring 191 then acts to move the front plate 161 toward the front of the machine to bring the movable clamping jaws 111 and 112 toward their companion jaws 164 and165.

After the book units have been engaged between the clamping jaws the rack 162 is moved toward the rear of the machine to move the book units from the first cutting stage to the second cutting stage of the machine. This is accomplished by means of the crank 252 keyed to the shaft 36 to act through the connecting rod 249, lever 244, shaft 243, gear segment 242 and gears 241, 240 and 238. When the book units are disposed at the second cutting stage of the machine the second stage trimming knives 61-61a act to trim one end of the book unit and to divide the book unit transversely intermediate its ends to thus form one completely trimmed book.

' After the cutting stroke the upper end of the lever 236 acts against the roller 186 on the cam member 182 to pivot the latter in a counterclockwise direction (see Figs. 8 and 16). The roller 184 on the cam member 182 acts against the cam plate 116 to move the latter rearwardly until the roller 184 is seated in the locking recess 190. It will be noted that this movement of the cam plate 116 moves the movableclamping jaw 165. As the cam plate 116 is connected to the plate by means of the connecting bar 114, movement of the cam plate also acts to move the movable clamping jaw 111 away from its companion jaw 164. During rearward movement of the plate 115 the tension spring 196 acts to pivot the latch member 192 in a counterclockwise direction until its roller 191 is disposed in the locking recess 198 formed in the plate 115. When the clamping jaws are thus moved to their open positions, the rack feed units 161-161a move downwardly, leaving the book units at rest upon the platform 89. When the rack feed units reach their lower position, the racks 162-162 are moved toward the front of the machine by the action of the gear segment 242 through the chain of gears 241, 239 and 238. During movement of the rack toward the front of the machine the trip arm 202 acts against the roller 186 to pivot the cam member 182 "in a clockwise direction to move the roller 184 out of the locking recess 190. During upward movement of the rack feed mechanism the trip plate 201 acts against the trip pin 199 to pivot the latch member 192 in a clockwise direction to move the roller 191 out of the locking recess 198. The tension spring 191 then acts to move the front plate 161 and its movable clamping jaws 111 and 112 toward their companion jaws 164 and 165.

The rack feed units 161-161a act in the manner thus described in transferring book units from the second cutting stage to the third cutting stage, the trimming knives 13 and 13a act to trim the head and foot of the untrimmed individual book. After the third stage trimming 

